Four California men were cited this week for allegedly killing at least 108 ducks in two days in Butte County – well over the legal hunting limit.
State Fish and Game Warden Tyson Hulse on Jan. 20 observed three of the men hunting waterfowl late in the day near the town of Richvale. He noted "unusual behavior" that suggested they were shooting ducks and taking them home, then returning to the field to shoot more on the same day.
The next day, Hulse observed the same group, plus a fourth man, killing large numbers of ducks in the same area. Later that day, Hulse and three additional game wardens contacted and cited the four men.
In addition to the 108 pintail, widgeon, scaup, teal and mallard ducks that had been killed, the wardens found freezers full of additional duck meat, said Patrick Foy, a spokesman at the California Department of Fish and Game. This meat had already been processed to varying degrees, so it was difficult to determine how many additional birds were involved.
"If left unchecked, this type of poaching activity would depress the local (waterfowl) populations," said Foy.
Cited for multiple misdemeanor hunting violations Jan. 21 were Todd Gregory Owen, 48, and Cody Lee Owen, 21, both of Biggs; Clint Matthew Owen, 24, of Richvale; and Jeffrey Delte, 24, of San Jose. Each alleged violation carries a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.
State regulations allow a hunting limit of seven ducks per person per day, with no more than 14 in possession if taken over two or more days. Lower limits apply to certain species.
Collectively, Foy said, the four men allegedly were over the limit by 52 ducks, with additional individual species violations.
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